How to attract funding.
If you’re running an SME in Kenya, you’ve probably felt the sting of pitching to investors and getting nowhere. Maybe your business in Nakuru or Nairobi has big potential, but your pitch lacks polish, or your financials don’t spark confidence. With Kenyan startups raising over Sh17 billion in the first half of 2025, up 12% from prior year, the funding scene is buzzing. Yet, many SMEs miss out due to weak preparation. That’s where advisory services come in, helping businesses like yours craft sharp investor decks, optimize capital structures, and build solid governance frameworks to attract funding.
Explaining Investor Decks
Let’s start with the investor deck; this is your business’s handshake with potential funders. It’s more than slides; it’s a story that sells your vision, market fit, and profit potential. Kenya’s venture capital scene, boosted by programs like Boost Africa and EIB funds, is competitive. With digital capital raising hitting US$23 million in 2025, per Statista, a sloppy deck can sink you. Investors want traction and clarity.
Advisory services build decks that shine by analyzing your business model; your revenue, customers, compliance, and positioning in the market. The result? A 15-20 slide deck with clear financials.
Optimizing Capital Structures
Next up, optimizing your capital structure is like tuning your business for efficiency. This means balancing debt, equity, and other financing to keep you afloat and growing. Studies, like those from the Journal of Economics and Management Innovations, show balanced structures boost profitability for African SMEs facing high interest rates—around 13-15% from Kenyan banks. Many local businesses lean too hard on costly loans or informal lenders, risking cash flow crunches.
Advisory services assess your setup and suggest smarter mixes, like blending equity with debt Using insights from the Trade-Off Theory, we balance tax benefits of debt against risks, making the business more appealing to investors wary of over-leverage. It’s about funding growth without breaking the bank.
Governance Frameworks
Finally, governance is your trust badge. In Kenya, where the Principles for Corporate Governance stress transparency, strong governance screams reliability. The 2024 Investment Climate Statement notes that aligning with global standards like the Companies Act boosts Kenya’s appeal to investors. Yet, many SMEs lack formal boards or clear policies.
Advisory services bridge this gap with governance audits, recommending independent directors or ESG-compliant practices that appeal to impact investors eyeing Kenya’s green economy. KEPSA’s 2025 investor readiness trainings emphasized governance as a funding unlocker. It’s not just paperwork; it’s investor confidence.
Conclusion
Raising capital takes preparation. At FH Consulting LLP, we’re passionate about guiding Kenyan firms to success. Our advisory services turn your SME into a funding magnet with tailored decks, smart financing, and robust governance.
